Folding table



June 19, 1934.

J. J. WILKINSON FOLDING TABLE Filed Aug. 26. 1931 INVENTOR. Jo/ma/ M4 ,wn Jo/v.

BY f g 4 z ATT RNEY.

Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Ferguson Brothers Manufacturing Company,

Hoboken, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 26, 1931, Serial No. 559,371

23 Claims.

My invention relates to folding tables, particu- 'larly to that type of table known as a card table, in which the legs are perimetrically positioned for'folding against the underside of the table top.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a novel form of actuating means for the table legs, so designed and arranged that the movement of any one leg to or from i'olded position communicates such movement to the other three legs, resulting in corresponding movement thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide folding means that is for the most part concealed and as integral with the table rim as possible, and of few parts, and which is free of the usual appendage of conspicuous mechanical means common in folding tables of this type.

Another object of my invention lies in the provision of a trackway around the rim of the table within which is movably mounted a series of slugs or small blocks freely slidable in the trackway and the movement of which is communicated to the legs of the table.

A further object of my invention lies in the provision of a novel locking means whereby the legs may be frictionally retained in unfolded position.

Other objects and advantages in details of construction and arrangement of parts will be apparent as the description proceeds, reference now being had to the figures of the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a small perspective view of a card table to which my invention is particularly applicable.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of a table embodying my invention the top thereof being broken away and the legs shown in folded position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 but with the legs of the table in unfolded or extended position, certain parts being in section and others broken away for clearness of illustration.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional View taken on a line 4--4 of Figure 3 in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 in the direction of the arrows.

The top of the table is indicated at land may be of any usual or desired construction such as wood veneer or other materials, plain, or'covered with felt as is common in card table constructions. The frame of the table top consists of -four strips 2 miter-ed at their ends as at 3 to provide the corners of the table. These strips 2 are'rabbeted as at 4 to receive the top 1 flush withthe upper edges of the strips. 7

- On the inner sides of each of the strips 2'there is provided a groove or recess 5 extending the full length of each strip for a purpose to be described. Secured adjacent each corner to one of thestr'ips 2, as by screws 6, is an angle bracket '1 spaced from the adjacent strip 2 and supporting one 5765 end of a bolt 8 extending through the adjacent strip 2. Pivoted upon each of'the bolts8 between the brackets 7 and the strips 2 is aleg 9 of the table. This construction is identical "at each of the four corners of the table and provides the pivotal support for the legs :9. It will'be noted with reference to Figure 3 that the brackets 7 are mounted at the loweredges of the strips 2 and below the slots 5 therein. Disposed at each 7 corner of the table directly beneath the top 1 is a filler block '10 secured to the strips 2 as by gluing or in any other suitablemanner, the inner curved face of the block being'grooved'or slotted as at 11 on an easy'curve, theiends of such'a slot 11 registering and aligning with the slots 5 in the adjacent strips 2.

Slidably disposed within the slots '5 "and 11, are a series of slugs 12 which may be of wood, metal, or other suitable material, or which may take the form of closely coiled springs, rollers, C balls, or other freely slidable elements within the grooves. In the slot 5 in-each of the strips 2, there is also disposed a relatively'long slug 13 for a purpose to be described.

Secured to the inner face of the strips 2 and the curved faces of the blockslQ and covering the slots 5 and 11 therein, is a fiat strip 14 of metal or other suitable materiahsecured in position as by the screws 15 or otherwise. This strip 14 holds the slugs 12 within the grooves 5 and 3 11 but permits their free movement therein. The strip 14 may be in one piece extending entirely around the frame of the table or may be in sections as desired.

Along each of the sides of the table frame the 1 0 strip 14 is provided with an elongated slot 16 in alignment with the slot in the strips 2 and therefore registering with the slugs 12 and 13. One of the slugs 12 on each side of the frame carries a pin 17 extending outwardly through the slot 16 and pivoted to the extendingend of each of the pins 17 is one end of a link '18 pivoted at its opposite end to a leg 9 as at 19. The angle of connection between "the slug 12 carrying the pin 17 and the leg 9 through the link 18 is such that movement of any of the legs 9 serves to move, through the link 18, the slug 12 in the slot 5, the pin 17 moving in the slot 16. This movement is, of course, communicated to the other slugs in the slots 5 and 11 around the table frame and results in similar movement of the other legs, all of which are connected with the slugs as above described.

The slugs 12 are necessarily made short in order that they will pass freely around the corners of the table in the grooves 11. With the limited movement of the legs to and from folding position, however, it is unnecessary that all of the slugs be short and on each side, as before described, there is provided one long slug which in the limits of movement required, does not have to pass around any of the corners. These long slugs lend a little more rigidity to the structure.

In order that the slugs 12 may be held against inadverent movement when the legs 9 are in unfolded position as shown in Figure 1, there is provided on the underside of the top 1 a channel member 20 extending across the top and guided within which channel is a locking pin 21, spring pressed in one direction by a coil spring 22 positioned within the channel and abutting at one end against a fixed stop 23. The pin 21 is provided with a rounded point 24 passing through an opening 25 provided in one of the strips 14 adjacent one end of the slot 16 therein. The ends of slugs 12 and 13 are, as clearly shown in the drawing, rounded and beveled and the disposition of the slugs in the grooves is such that when the legs 9 are in unfolded position, the adjacent and abutting ends of one of the long slugs 13 and the short slug 12 next thereto, will coincide with the opening 25 through which the spring pressed plunger point 24 passes. In such position, the point 24 of the locking plunger engages between such adjacent ends of the slugs 12 and 13 and forms a lock preventing inadverent movement of the slugs and consequent collapse or folding of the legs. The tension of the spring 22, however, is not so great but that it may be easily overcome manually by pulling rearwardly on the pin 21 by means of the finger piece 21a extending through a slot 211) in the channel 20. The point 24 rides along the face of the slug 13 during the movement of the legs to folded position. Thus the elongated slug 13 which cooperates with the locking plunger 21 has the additional advantage of presenting a smooth surface to the locking point 24 of the plunger.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a folding mechanism for card tables and the like which permits the folding and unfolding of the legs by operation of any single leg and the working parts of the mechanism being for the most part concealed and out of the way. The movement of the slugs 12 and 13 in the grooves 5 and 11 is free and smooth and may be facilitated in any desired way as by greasing, polishing, etc.

Of course, changes may be made in details of construction and form without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not limit myself, therefore, to the exact form herein shown and described other than by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A folding table comprising a frame and folding legs, said frame having a continuous slideway, a series of contacting elements mQvable. in

said slideway and connections between said legs and certain of said elements.

2. A folding table comprising a frame and folding legs, said frame having a continuous slideway, a series of contacting elements movable in said slideway, connections between said legs and certain of said elements and means for locking the elements against movement when the legs reach their unfolded positions.

3. A folding table comprising a frame and folding legs, said frame having a continuous slideway, a series of contacting elements movable in said slideway, connections between said legs and certain of said elements and a yielding device for locking the elements against movement when the legs reach their unfolded positions.

4. A folding table comprising a frame and folding legs, said frame having a continuous slideway, a series of contacting elements movable in said slideway and rigid links connecting said legs with certain of said elements. 7 r

5. A folding table comprising a frame and folding legs, said frame having a continuous slideway, a series of contacting elements movable in said slideway, rigid links connecting said legs with certain of said elements and means for look-- ing the elements against movement when the legs reach their unfolded positions.

6. A folding table comprising a frame and folding legs, said frame having a continuous slideway, a series of contacting elements movable in said slideway, rigid links connecting said legs with certain of said elements and a yielding device for locking the elements against movement when the legs are in their unfolded positions.

7. A folding table comprising a frame and folding legs, said frame having a continuous slot, a series of contacting elements movable in said slot and connections between said legs and certain of said elements.

8. A folding table comprising a frame and legs pivoted thereto, said frame comprising straight sections on the sides and curved sections at the corners, communicating slots in said sections, slidable members in said slots for movement in said sections, and connections between said elements and said legs. 7

9. A folding table comprising a frame and folding legs, said frame comprising straight sections on the sides and curved sections at the corners,

communicating slots in said sections, an annular series of contacting elements movable in said slots and connections between said legs and certain of said elements.

10. A folding table comprising a frame and legs pivoted thereto, said frame comprising straight sections on the sides and curved sections at the corners, communicating slots in said sections, slidable members in said slots for movement in said sections, connections between said elements and said legs, and cover means for said slots, said cover means being slotted also to permit said connections.

11. A folding table comprising a frame and folding legs, said frame comprising straight sections,

said cover means being slotted to permit said connections.

12. A folding table comprising a frame and legs pivoted thereto, said frame comprising straight se tions on the id and curved sections at the corners, communicating slots in said sections, slidable members in said slots for movement in said sections, cover means for said slots, said cover means also being slotted, connections between said legs and said elements through said slotted cover means, and a locking member cooperating with certain of said members to lock them in one predetermined position.

13. A folding table comprising a frame and legs pivoted thereto, said frame comprising straight sections on the sides and curved sections at the corners, communicating slots in said sections, slidable members in said slots for movement in said sections, cover means for said slots, said cover means also being slotted, connections between said legs and said elements through said slotted cover means, and a locking member cooperating with certain of said members to lock them in one predetermined position, said locking means comprising a spring pressed pin engageable between the adjacent ends of certain of said elements.

14. A folding table comprising a frame and folding legs, said frame having a continuous slideway, a series of unattached contacting elements movable in said slideway and rigid connections between the legs and certain of said elements whereby the folding or unfolding of one leg will correspondingly cause the folding or unfolding of the other legs by a pushing movement of the said elements.

15. A folding table comprising a frame and folding legs, said frame having a continuous slideway, a series of longer and shorter contacting slugs movable in said slideway and rigid links connecting said legs to certain selected shorter slugs.

16. A folding table comprising a frame and folding legs, said frame having a continuous slideway, a series of longer and shorter contacting slugs movable in said slideway, rigid links connecting said legs to certain selected shorter slugs, and means for locking the slugs against movement when the legs reach their unfolded positions.

17. A folding table comprising a frame and folding legs, said frame having a continuous slideway, a series of longer and shorter contacting slugs movable in said slideway, rigid links connecting said legs to certain selected shorter slugs and a yielding device for locking the slugs against movement when the legs reach their unfolded positions.

18. A folding table including a polygonal top, legs hinged to the top adjacent the corners thereof and folding in corresponding directions perimetrically of the table top, a plurality of reciprocatory slides, one for each leg mounted on the table top, a link pivotally connecting each leg with one of said slides, guides connecting the ends of the slides one with the other, and mobile bodies within said guides interposed between the adjacent slides and subjected to compression by the movement of the slides for transmitting motion from one slide to another for imparting simultaneous folding and unfolding movements to the legs.

19. In a construction of the character described, a table top including a dependent marginal rail, supporting legs pivoted to the top structure, said dependent rail having in its inner face a continuing groove, a series of actuator members mounted within the groove of the rail for to and fro reciprocatory motion, links operatively connecting the actuators with the respective legs, and intermediate motion transmitting means interposed between the respective actuators within the groove in said rail and operating to transmit motion first in one direction and then the other from one actuator to the next of the series.

20. In a construction of the character described, a polygonal table top including a marginal rail, a plurality of supporting legs pivoted to the top structure adjacent the corners thereof, said rail having therein a longitudinal groove, a series of reciprocatory actuators, one for each leg located therein, operator means connecting each actuator with a corresponding leg, the grooves in different sides of the top structure intercornmunicating at the corners, and motion transmitting means concealed in such intersecting portions of the grooves and operating to transmit motion from one actuator to another.

21. In a construction of the character described, a polygonal table top including a marginal rail, a plurality of supporting legs pivoted to the top structure adjacent the corners thereof, said rail having therein a longitudinal groove, a series of reciprocatory actuators, one for each leg located therein, operator means connecting each actuator with a corresponding leg, and motion transmitting means connecting the actuators one with another exteriorly of the legs.

22. In a folding table, a polygonal top including a marginal rail and supporting legs located adjacent to the corners of the top and hinged for folding movement, longitudinally disposed channels formed in the inner sides of the rail and intercommunicating with each other at the corners of the top, reciprocatory actuator means located within the interconnecting channels of the top rail and extending exteriorly of the legs about the table top, and operative connections between the actuator means and the legs.

23. A folding table including a polygonal top and supporting legs hinged thereto for relative folding movement, interconnecting channels formed in the under side of the table top, circuitous actuator means positioned within the interconnecting channels of the table top, and operative connections between the actuator means and the legs transmitting to the legs unison folding and unfolding motion in unison with the to and fro motion of the actuator means.

JOHN J. WILKINSON. 

